Anampses meleagris Hello again, I have also noticed you rate the genus Anampses as very difficult to keep. I have had my A. meleagris in a reef tank for over a year now with no problems (I also have, you might remember, 1 Chaetodon rafflesi, 1 Chelmon rostratus, 4 blue damsels and 2 clowns). <Was just on Heron Island last month (southern Queensland, Australia) and they had a gorgeous female (the gender almost always sold in the trade) that they had had for a couple of years as well... Most die soon after or on arrival.> It has always eaten well (brine shrimps and mussels) and I only see him from after 10am up to 5pm (I suppose he goes to sleep after that). I don't suppose I am just lucky as I have other seen specimens at my dealer doing well for some time. Are we getting better at handling/transporting? Cheers, <I do believe you are right. Faster, more careful, consistent methods of bagging, boxing, shipping. Bob Fenner> Massimo, Brighton, UK

Anampses: inappropriate fish for community tanks 12/16/04 Howdy crew! <howdy, dear :)> This is my first time writing to you, so thank you in advance for your time :o) <always welcome> First, let me give you the tank info: tank size = 100g NH3/NH4 = 0 NO2 = 0 NO3 = 0 Calcium = 450 <please go easy on Calcium here... no need to push the high end of the envelope. No higher than 450 please> Alk = 10 DKH SG = 1.024 temp = 81.5 (having some temp issue (fluctuation) due to new return pump and new skimmer pump) 10 - 20% water change weekly live rock 55lbs and adding more from holding tank new AquaC EV180 sump for mechanical filtration w/ bioballs (will remove once more live rock is in) Magnum 350 deluxe canister for mechanical/carbon filtration sea swirl on return pump and swivel powerhead for extra movement Inhabitants = 1 ocellaris (Oscar), 1 green Chromis (Lil' Dude), 1 skunk cleaner shrimp (Seymour), about 5 each of Astrea snails and blue legged hermits, 2 bumble bee snails, <you do know that these bumble bee snails eat no algae? They do not have the mouthparts for it. They are carnivores and a burden on the life forms in your live sand bed like the blue leg hermits. Not great choices> 1 pipe organ (Bach), <hmmm.... a challenging coral :(> and lastly (but not least) Eleanor our new Red Tailed Tamarin (a week and a half new). <Arghhhh... the last entry is patently and categorically an inappropriate fish for any marine community tank. Few aquarists can keep these fishes alive for more than 2 years. In a community tank, I don't think yours will even live to see a year if even 6 months :(> I have read both internet information and book info on this species, and I personally would never have chosen this fish, but my husband wanted this fish more than anything, so there it is.   <I am fairly certain he will watch it slowly starve to death too. Not chastising you per se... but it is what it is. And do remind hubby if he truly admires the beauty of this species... watching one die this way is a funny tribute> I do understand that their diet is best provided via live rock, and before the introduction of this fish, <this is a stretch at best. Only in huge tanks with huge refugiums and both mature and established (over one year old). Without a refugium, this and any such fish will decimate any number of zooplankton in the display tank in mere months> we had so many pods that our sand and rock were literally crawling with them both night and day.  Not to mention a host of worm variety and other little inhabitants.  I have no problem continuing to swap out/ reculture live rock to help sustain her, <very grateful to hear this... but it still will not help my friend. When forced to browse the same few square feet of live rock every day and share it with other creatures, these plankters will be quickly depleted> but I do need to consider supplementing her diet.  She has been eating well on the rocks for now, and she also pecks at the glass (my other two fish do it as well... monkey see monkey do...hehehe).   <the actual problem is that this fish like Anthiines or Dragonets on copepods literally eat several thousand individual particles per day in the wild. There is no way you can provide this unless you literally culture live copepods, rotifers, etc> I have tried different food to supplement her diet, but she has taken very little interest ( brine with HUFA, marine mix SF brand, blood worms, and formula one frozen) I cut off a small amount of each, mix in some formula one and two dry food, and add a few drops of Zoe.  I let it thaw and then feed with turkey baster.  My other critters love this but again, Eleanor shows little interest.   <this is common... but even when they feed on brine shrimp, its a hollow food> I am considering trying scallops, mussels, squid from our seafood shop, but I have a few questions about that.  I am assuming that it should be fresh raw, not cooked or frozen?  Should I look at finding a way to "stick" it in the rock crevices or bind it to some small pieces of live rock rubble, since her preferred feeding method is to bite at the rock and substrate?   <yes... browsing for benthic microorganisms> I would really like this fish to stay healthy since my husband loves her (as do I but reluctantly <grin>).  Anyway, thank you again for your time, and your site and the forum are visited everyday by my husband and me. Best Regards, Erica <I truly am sorry to bear this news, but Anampses species are some of the most difficult species to keep alive still in the trade. Yours will almost certainly become a statistic unless you learn to culture copepods fast. There are a few online suppliers of live bottled copepods. You should also try feeding thawed frozen Cyclop-eeze (and freeze-dried ones if this fish will eat them). These are your best bets. When this fish does perish... please do resist the temptation to try another. A 2 year (or less) captive lifespan is just not a responsible use of living resources when the creature should live well over 10 years naturally. Best of luck, Anthony>

Cool Looking Wrasse. Anampses femininus 7/27/07 Great Website, this is my second time posting a question. Saw a great looking wrasse called Blue-Tailed Wrasse (Anampses femininus) both male and female are equally pretty. <Quite stunning.> Any husbandry info? How hard are they to find? <They are fairly rare, they ship very poorly and can be quite finicky eaters, a real challenge to keep.> The little info I've found on them doesn't say they are found at great depths or are rare yet I have never seen them, do you know why? Thx <Most likely because most die in shipping, the Genus Anampses as a whole do not make great aquarium selections.> <Chris>